What was found in Bourne's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 630 µg/L 6.3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: BOURNE WATER DISTRICT · 22,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3570.5 µg/L — NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT · 4,668 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 845 µg/L 65% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: BOURNE WATER DISTRICT · 22,500 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 109.5 µg/L 2.7% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: BOURNE WATER DISTRICT · 22,500 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 13 µg/L 0.7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: BOURNE WATER DISTRICT · 22,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 31.9 µg/L — NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT · 4,668 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 20.9 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Highest in the city: NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT · 4,668 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 7.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT · 4,668 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 7 µg/L 7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: BOURNE WATER DISTRICT · 22,500 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 6.09 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT · 4,668 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 4.39 µg/L 29% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: BOURNE WATER DISTRICT · 22,500 people · 2016 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 4.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT · 4,668 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 2.957 µg/L 4.2% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Main supplier: BOURNE WATER DISTRICT · 22,500 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 2.1 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: BOURNE WATER DISTRICT · 22,500 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 1.825 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT · 4,668 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 1.795 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: BOURNE WATER DISTRICT · 22,500 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 1.71 µg/L 2.9% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Highest in the city: NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT · 4,668 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.21 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT · 4,668 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 1.2 µg/L 60% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: BOURNE WATER DISTRICT · 22,500 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 0.9000 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT · 4,668 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 0.8400 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT · 4,668 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 0.6200 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT · 4,668 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 0.5500 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT · 4,668 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 0.5500 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT · 4,668 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | 0.0930 µg/L 9.3% of the EPA limit 1 µg/L Main supplier: BOURNE WATER DISTRICT · 22,500 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| PFHXS | 0.0076 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BOURNE WATER DISTRICT · 22,500 people · 2025 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0044 mg/L 29% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: BOURNE WATER DISTRICT · 22,500 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0050 mg/L — BARNSTABLE COUNTY JAIL · 600 people · 2025 | 5/5 | LCR |
| PFOS | 0.0048 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BOURNE WATER DISTRICT · 22,500 people · 2025 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0045 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT · 4,668 people · 2023 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0031 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BOURNE WATER DISTRICT · 22,500 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0037 µg/L — NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT · 4,668 people · 2023 | 2/5 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Bourne
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| BOURNE WATER DISTRICT | 22,500 |
| BUZZARDS BAY WATER DISTRICT | 7,700 |
| NORTH SAGAMORE WATER DISTRICT | 4,668 |
| BARNSTABLE COUNTY JAIL | 600 |
| SCHOONER PASS TRUSTEES CONDOMINIUMS | 136 |
Frequently asked questions about Bourne tap water
Is Bourne tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 28 contaminants in the water serving Bourne. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Bourne?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Bourne, Massachusetts to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Bourne's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Bourne include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Barium, TTHM. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.